April 24, 2012

Mavs dealt with all the changes this season

DALLAS -- The members of the Dallas Mavericks who are back this season after winning last year's NBA title weren't exactly thrilled when management decided not to re-sign Tyson Chandler, JJ Barea, DeShawn Stevenson, Caron Butler and Corey Brewer.

But they've managed to deal with the aftermath.

"To me it was over once we made the decision not to bring guys back and we did the move for Lamar (Odom), I thought we were going to be right there in a position to win,'' forward Dirk Nowitzki said. "So as a player, for me, I focused on that and started working myself back into shape and the rest of it is out of my hands.

"As a player I try to go out there and perform and try to help this team win whoever we play, wherever we play. The rest is out of my hands.''

Also out of Nowitzki's hands was the fact that Odom just never did mesh with the Mavs, for whatever reasons. And without calling his name, Nowitzki sort of alluded to that.

"Some of the new guys, it took them a while to get going -- some of them never got going,'' Nowitzki said. "It is what it is. We’ve got to move on and let it all hang out in the playoffs.

"I really like how we've competed lately. Like I said, if we play hard and rebound on the defensive end, I still think we’re going to be a tough out.''